Garment for automobile operators.



. HPATENTBD OCT. 30,1906.- E. WENIGMANN. GARMENT FOR AUTOMOBILEOPERATORS.

APPLICATION rmm APR. 21. 1906.

a sums-sum 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

rns' noun: Psrilc c E.- WBNIGMANN.

GARMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE OPERATORS. I v f nrmoumn nun 1.2-1. 190s."

0, WASHINGTON. p c.

.PA'TENTED 001130, 1906..

SINVENTOR 111/ *A'TTORNEY a sums-sum 2.

E. WENIGMANN.

GARMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE OPERATORS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1906. I

WITNESSES: |NVENTOR' g a ,EI'IILJZTWIZQ'QIIWZIV I .BY 7 51M; EATTORNEYPATENTBD 001.30.. 1906;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

Application filed April 27, 1906. Serial No. 313,929.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST WENIGMANN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garmentsfor Automobile Operators, of

V which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements inv outer garments for automobileoperators; and it consists in the novel features and structurehereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide an outer garment adapted to beconveniently applied to and removed from the legs, feet, and body of anautomobile operator to protect him from rain, cold winds, and dust andwhichwhen on the operator will not interfere with the free use of hislegs and feet whether he is on the automobile or finds it necessary toalight from the same.

The garment of my invention may be conveniently applied by the operatonupon himself while he is seated in an automobile, and this is a featureof advantage to a gentleman who may prefer to operate his own machineand who may be met at, say, a railroad-station by the automobile anddesire to protect himself by means of the garment from cold or rain ordust. v

The garment may of course be applied to the wearer at any time, and whenapplied it affords the protection of and avoids all of the objections toa first-class lap-robe, which cannot safely be used by an automobileoperator, and in'addition the garment of my invention is notobjectionable in appearance and per mits the wearer of the same tocomfortably walk about should he find it necessary or convenient toalight from the machine.

The garment will also protect the clothing of the wearer from beingsoiled while he is engaged in attending to any repairs, work, or

correction on or in the machine.

- be fastened about thelegs of the wearer, feet portions to be appliedover the top and adapted to receive the toe parts of the shoes of thewearer, heel-caps to engage the heels of the shoes of the wearer and aidin maintaining the said feet portions in firm and convenient ment toprotect the like part of the wearer, the said leg members being soformed that when wrapped about the legs and fastened their edgesconstitute outwardly-projecting sections which serve to break the windfrom the wearer and toform means for directing off rain-water in lieu ofallowing it to pass around the legs and under the seat of the wearer; Atthe crotch portion of the garment the leg members when in their normalflat condition considerably overlap each other, so that when the garmentis put on said overlapping portions may pass down between the legs ofthe wearer and cooperating with said crotch-flap afford effectualprotection against wind and rain.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed descriptionhereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a representation of an automobile operator clothedin an outer garment embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of thegarment spread out and taken from the inner side thereof, the upperflapposition, and a flap at the crotch of the garsection of the bodyportion of the garment being shown turned downwardly by full lines,whilethe upper position of said flap-section is indicated by dottedlines. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 4through one leg member of the garment. Fig. 4 is a vertical section ofsame on. the dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 3, only the lower portion of oneleg member being illustrated and the position of the foot therein beingdenoted by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through one legof the garment on about the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 4 and illustratesthe outer portions of the leg member as drawn toward each other andfastened by means of tapes tied together; and Fig. 6 is a correspondingview of same, illustrating the outer portions of the leg member of thegarment as fastened by means of snap-buttons, such as commonly used ongloves, in lieu of tapes tied together.

, In the drawings, 10 designates the body portion of the garment to befastened u on the wearer by means of tapes 11 or ot er suitable means;12, an upper fla -section fastened along the upper edge of t e portion10 and adapted to fold down against the same, as shown in Fig. 2, or beturned upwardly therefrom to the position indicated by dotted lines, andthereby form'a protection for the chest; 13, the leg members of thegarment, fastened together at their upper inner vertical edges by theline of sewing 14 and at their upper inner portions secured by said lineof sewing 14 and by the line of sewing 15 to the said body portion; 16,the feet portions of the garment, adapted to cover the top and receivethe toe end of the shoes and fastened by lines of sewing 17 to themiddle portions of the lower edges of said leg members; 18, theheel-caps, connected by elastic straps 19 to said feet portions, and 20a flap at the crotch of the garment and secured by the line of sewing 28at the inner side of the leg members 13 above the crotch of the garment,the said flap 20 being free below its upper edge and adapted when thewearer of the garment is seated in an automobile to extend downwardlybelow the upper surface of the wagon-seat, so as to protect the weareragainst chilling winds and rain.

The body portion 10 protects the body of the wearer and extends abovethe waist-line, as shown in Fig. 1, and in the event of inclementweather the wearer may turn the upper flap 12 upwardly, so that it mayafford protection to his chest. The lower portion of the body 10 isnarrower than the combined width of the upper ends of the leg members13, and this enables said leg members to be folded about the legs andthighs without creating a bulky condition of the garment about thewaist. I give the upper portions of the leg members 13 considerablewidth, so that they may be folded around the thighs and upper portionsof the legs and afford adequate protection. At the crotch portion of thegarment the leg members 13 extend inwardly beyond each other, wherebywhat may be termed a flap-section 21 is formed upon the left-hand legmember 13 looking at Fig. 2, extending inwardly beyond a correspondingflap-section 22, formed on the right-hand leg member 13, saidflap-section 22 being indicated by dotted lines. The flapsections 21 22are not sewed together, but are free of each other except at the pointwhere their upper converging edges meet at the lower end of' the line ofsewing 14, said line of sewing 14 uniting the upper inner edges of theleg members on a vertical line and terminating at the upper end of saidflapsections 21 22 and above the lower portion of the hangingcrotch-flap 20.

The leg members 13 are of suflicient width to be folded and fastenedaround the legs of the wearer and to afford when in positionoutwardly-projecting portions, (indicated at 23,) which serve asprotections to break the wind from the wearer and as means for directingoff rain-water in lieu of allowing it to pass around the legs and underthe seat of the wearer, in which respect the leg members 13 differessentially from ordinary trouserslegs and from close-fitting leggings.The leg members 13 may be fastened around the legs of the wearer by anysuitable means, and I indicate in Fig. 2 the employment ofoppositely-placed tapes 24 for securing them in position. The inner endsof the tapes 24 are secured at points located inwardly a considerabledistance from the vertical edges of the leg members, so that when saidmembers are secured upon the wearer the projecting protecting portions23 may be formed at both sides of the joint created by bringing togetherthe opposite portions of said leg members.

I regard the provision of the overlapping flap-sections 21 22 at theupper portion of the adjoining parts of the leg members as ofconsiderable importance, since when the garment is upon the operator andhe is seated said flap-sections 21 22 extend downwardly along the facingsides of the legs and coopcrate with the flap 20 in the protection ofthe lower front portion of the body of the wearer, said flap-sections 2122 and flap 20 warding off wind and providing surfaces upon which watermay be directed from about the lap of the operator in case he iscompelled to run the machine during a downpour of rain. I find itconvenient to apply the securing-tapes 24 at about the ankle-line andjust below the knee-line and at an intermediate point be tween theknee-line and the upper edge of the leg members. I do not desire tolimit my invention to the em )loyment of tapes 24 to be tied together ina knot as the means for securing the leg members around the legs of thewearer; but such tapes 24 are very convenient of use, since they permitthe garment to be comfortably adjusted to legs differing in thickness. 1am, however, aware that some persons may object to the tying of thetapes 24, and hence I illustrate in Fig. 6 a means for securing the legmembers by means of bands or tapes 25, one being shorter than the otherand carrying one section 26 of a snap-button, while said other or longerband or tape is provided with a series of button-sections 27, any ofwhich may be engaged by the section 26 on the other tape in accordancewith the proportions of the legs of the wearer and his ideas of acomfortablyfitting garment. The tapes 24 (shown in Fig. 2) afford meansfor adjusting the leg members 13 in comfortable position upon thewearer, and the tapes 25 with their button-sections (shown in Fig. 6)enable the like convenient adjustment of the leg members to the wearerand in addition dispense with the necessity of tying the opposite tapestogether by means of knots.

The feet portions 16 cover the top and sides of the shoes, as shown inFig. 4, and receive the toe portions of the shoes, it not being myintention to allow the feet portions 16 to cover the entire soles of theshoes, but only enough thereof to insure the portions 1.6

the legs and feet of the operator free, so that he may have nodifficulty therefrom in attending tothe treadles and other partsof anautomobile, and'in addition the garment is such that an operatormaywithout removing the same alight from the automobile and perfOIIIIlIany necessary dutyin connection therewit v Y The purpose accomplished bythe invention is the providing of a garment which will eflicientlyprotect the operator from chilling winds, dust, and rain'and" at thesame time permit him to have the free use of'his legs and hands anddevote his undivided attention to his duties in driving the machine. Thegarment may be applied and removed while the operator is on theautomobile, if he should so elect. J

The garment of my invention may be made of any suitable material, but,obviously, should be of waterproof material and of a thicknessappropriate to the season,fbeing made of thicker material or properlylined for winter use.

' Above the upper tapes 24 the opposite portions of the leg membersgradually separate, so that the garment does'not cover the seat of thewearer.

'What I claim'as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. A garment to be folded and secured around the front of'the body,thighs and legs of the wearer and comprising leg members connectedtogether at their inner upper adjoining portions and normally free ofeach other at their outer edges and at their inner edges below thecrotch and at said inner edges adjacent to the crotch being providedwith overlapping flap-sections 21, 22 which gradually decrease in widthas they a proach the knee portions of the garment an are below a centralpoint at which the upper ends of said sections are fastened togetherfree to be folded down between the legs of the wearer, means forsecuring the upper portion of the garment around the body, and means.

provided along opposite portions of the leg members and'set inwardlyfrom the edges of same for securing said members aroundthe legs andleaving projecting portions of said members at both sides of the jointscreated between opposite parts of said members at The heel-caps 18 areintended substantially as set forth.

the back of the legs; substantially as set forth;

A garment to be folded and secured ar'oundthe front of the body, thighsand legs of the wearer and comprising leg members connected together attheir inner upper adjoining portions and normally free of each other attheir outer edges and at their inner edges below the crotch and at saidinner edges adjacent to the crotch being provided with overlappingflap-sections 21,22 which graduallydecrease in width as they a proachthe knee portions of the garment an are below a central point at whichthe-upper ends of said sections are fastened together free to bev foldeddown between the legs of the wearer, a crotch-flap secured to the innerside ofthe garment above the crotch and hanging below the same andadapted-when in use'to extend below the top of the seat 00- cupied bythe wearer, means for securing the upper portion of the garment aroundthe body, and means provided along opposite 7 portions of the legmembers and set inwardly from'the edges of'same for securing saidmembers around the legs and'leaving pro-' jecting portions of saidmembers at both sides-of the joints created between opposite parts ofsaid members at the back of the legs;

8. A garment to be folded and secured around the front of the body,thighs and legs of the wearer and comprising leg members connectedtogether at their inner upper adjoining portions and normally free ofeach other at their outer edges and at their inner edges below thecrotch and at said inner edges adjacent to the crotch being providedwith overlapping flap-sections 21, 22 which gradually decrease in widthas they approach the knee portions of the garment and are below acentral point; at which the upper ends of said sections are fastenedtogether free to be folded down between the legs of the wearer, meansfor securing the upper portion of the garment around the body, and meansprovided along opposite portions of the leg members and set inwardlyfrom the edges of same for securing said members around the legs andleaving projecting portions of said members at both sides of the jointscreated between opposite parts of said members at the back of the legs,each of said leg members having a foot portion secured thereto and thecrotch being provided with overlapping flap-sections free to be foldeddown between the legs of the wearer, means for securing the upperportion of the garment around the body, and means provided alongopposite portions of the leg members and set inwardly from the edges ofsame for securing said members around the legs and leaving projectingportions of said members at both sides of the joints created betweenopposite parts of said members at the back of the legs, each of said legmembers having a foot portion secured thereto and comprising a coveringfor the top, sides and toe parts of the shoe, a heel-cap to be caughtupon the heel of the shoe and elastic straps connecting said heelcap tothe foot portion for binding the latter upon the shoe substantially asset forth.

5. A garment to be folded and secured around the front of the body,thighs and legs of the wearer and comprising a body portion 10 extendingabove the waist-line and provided at its upper edge with means forsecuring it upon the wearer and having permanently secured along saidupper edge a fla 12 which may be turned upwardly to protect the chest,leg members connected with said body portion and free of each otherbelow the crotch and at their inner edges at and below the crotch beingprovided with flap-sections 21, 22 which gradually decrease in width asthey approach the knee portions of the garment and are below a centralpoint at which the upper ends of said sections are fastened together,free to be folded down between the legs of the wearer when he is seated,andmeans provided along opposite portions of the leg members fordetachably securing them around the legs; substantially as set forth.

6. A garment to be folded and secured around the front of the body,thighs and legs of the wearer and comprising a body portion having anupper flap-section which may be turned upwardly to protect the chestwhen desired, leg members connected with said body portion and free ofeach other below the crotch and at their inner edges at and below thecrotch bein provided with flap-sections 21, 22 free to be folded downbetween the legs of the wearer when he is seated, a crotch-flap securedabove the crotch and hanging below the same and adapted to extend belowthe top of the seat occupied by the wearer, means for securing the upperportion of the garment around the body, and means provided alongopposite portions of the leg members for detachably securing them aroundthe legs; substantially as set forth.

7. A arment to be folded and secured around the front of the body,thighs and legs of the wearer and comprising a body portion having anupper flap-section which may be turned upwardly to protect the chestwhen desired, leg members connected with said body portion and free ofeach other below the crotch and at their inner edges at and below thecrotch being provided with flapsections 21, 22 free to be folded downbetween the legs of the wearer when he is seated, a crotch-flap securedabove the crotch and hanging below the same and adapted to extend belowthe top of the seat occupied by the wearer, means for securing the upperportion of the garment around the body, and means provided alongopposite portions of the leg members for detachably securing them aroundthe legs, each of said leg members having a foot portion secured theretocomprising a covering for the top, sides and toe parts of the shoe andmeans for firmly securing the same upon the shoe; substantially as setforth.

Signed at New York city, New York and State of New day of April, A. D.1906.

ERNEST WENIGMANN.

in the county of York, this 25th Witnesses:

CHAs. C. GILL, ARTHUR MARION.

